Mukhtar (also spelled Muktar, /ˈmʊktɑːr/) meaning "chosen" in Arabic المختار, refers to the head of a village or mahalle (neighbourhood) in many Arab countries as well as in Turkey and Cyprus. The name refers to the fact that mukhtars are usually selected by some consensual or participatory method, often involving an election. Mukhtar is also a common name. In Arab countries it is more often a surname (laqab), whilst in non-Arab Muslim countries it is common as a first name (ism).